Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
The Israeli Walla! website: We are running out of stockpiles, our forces are exhausted, and the lives of the captives are in danger. It is time for a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Several wounded in an Israeli bombardment of a tent in al-Mawasi, south of Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media: Three wounded, three killed in an ongoing operation in the Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis
Al-Qassam Brigades: A NIMR armored personnel carrier carrying an Israeli soldier was targeted with an Al-Yassin missile north of Khan Younis
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes

After political backlash, EU Parliament passes nature law

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 12 Jul 2023 21:47
3 Min Read

European Union lawmakers adopt the legal proposal with 336 votes in favor, 300 against, and 13 abstentions.

  • x
  • Swedish Greta Thunberg attends a demonstration with other activists outside the European Parliament, on July 11, 2023. (AP)
    Swedish Greta Thunberg attends a demonstration with other activists outside the European Parliament, on July 11, 2023. (AP)

On Wednesday, the European Parliament voted to pass a fiercely contested law to restore degraded natural ecosystems, salvaging the environmental measures that center-right lawmakers had for long campaigned to kill off.

The legislation was approved by European Union legislators with 336 votes in favor, 300 votes against it, and 13 abstentions. The final wording will now be negotiated by legislators and member nations, with an agreement sought before the EU Parliament 2024 elections.

After the vote, Cesar Luena, the parliament's lead negotiator on the law, told reporters that they "have won. It is a social victory: for scientists, for young people, for a lot of companies and businesses, for the agricultural sector."

Government officials warned that Europe is enacting too many environmental regulations as part of its green agenda, which led to months of political campaigning that showed profound splits among EU countries and parliamentarians over the plan.

Read more: European Commission faces trouble passing 'Green Deal' bills

The plan was opposed by the European People's Party (EPP), the largest legislative bloc in the EU Parliament, on the grounds that it would hurt farmers and jeopardize food security.

EPP group chair Manfred Weber characterized the victory as "an empty win."

"We can only be successful on the green deal if we unify, this is obviously not the case with this bad piece of legislation," he added.

Related News

EU parliament approves pending commissioner nominees

By 2030, countries must implement measures that restore nature to a fifth of their land and sea, according to the law. The goal is to stop the degradation of Europe's natural ecosystems, which are considered to be in bad health in 81% of cases.

EU lawmaker Mohammed Chahim said, "Restoring nature brings numerous benefits to farmers," adding that they "cannot grow food on dead soil."

Legislators and scientists have refuted the EPP's assertions and accused them of spreading false information to win support before the EU Parliament elections next year. It is denied by the group.

"This law is not against anybody," Luena said. "This is a law on behalf of nature, not against any person whatsoever."

She expressed gratitude to the academics and young people who had backed the law, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who was present in the EU parliament on Wednesday to see the vote.

To advance the EU's overall green agenda, including its aim to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, Brussels has already passed a number of CO2-reducing measures.

Recent environmental measures, however, have encountered opposition, notably those that call for farmers to make changes to address environmental pollution and the dwindling numbers of bees and butterflies populations.

This week, EU lawmakers agreed to weaken a different regulation aimed at reducing farm pollution.

Read next: G7 vows to quit fossil fuel faster, end new plastic pollution by 2040

  • European People's Party
  • Greta Thunberg
  • Manfred Weber
  • Lawmakers
  • European Parliament
  • Cesar Luena
  • European Union

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS